Food-display case for lunch counters



Jan. 21, 1930. J. 5. REID 1,744,081

FOOD DISPLAY CASE FOR LUNCH COUNTERS Filed Jan 25, 1928 I 2 heets-SheetV 1 7w Q Q llml Jan. 21, 1930. J. 5. REID 1,7 4,081

FOOD DISPLAY CASE FOR LUNCH COUNTERS Filed Jan- 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 6 S. 1/796 9 ?y wnmim ,Re/d

Patented Jan. 21, 1930 JOHN S. REID, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN FOOD-DISPLAY CASE FOR LUNCH COUNTERS Application filed January 25, 1928. Serial No. 249,439.

The invention relates to an improved method of, and means for, the samtary CllS- play and serving of food at a lunch counter.

comparatively low height above the counter exposes to the patrons vlew the various service devices, such as receptacles for soiled In restaurants where quick service is a feaa ture it has been common practice to install counters of various types at which the patrons are seated instead of at individual tables.

Such counters not only save space but they also facilitate service and by their use a large 1 number of patrons may be accommodated in a minimum of time.

It has been found that a display of various articles of food, attractively arranged before the customer at a point where he cannot avoid is seeing them While he is eating, has a stimulating effect upon the amount of business done by a restaurant of this class. Various means of display are used.

In one type a display case of glass is set directly upon the counter, at its edge away from the patron, or, where a comparatively wide counter is used, at a point near the center of the counter and as a modification of this type a second case is superimposed upon the one that rests directly upon the lunch counter.

In another type the display case is, or a pair of superimposed cases are, located at a point near the center of the counter and raised to an elevation sutficient to permit the serving to be done under the lower case.

All of these types are subject to serious objections. In the type where the food display case is set upon the counter the whole structure, counter and display case included, is so low as to be disproportionate to the height of the attendants serving behind the counter, causing an attendant of average height to appear awkward and unattractive,

and it has been been found that the pleasing appearance of the attendants is a feature in stimulating business done by a restaurant of this class. Another disadvantage of a display case of this type is that when such 4 counter is approximately U-shaped in plan its dishes, which are usually located under the counter, on the attendants side thereof. This is especially true of the modern type of lunch counter which is of a height approximating that of an ordinary dining table. Another disadvantage of this type of display case is that, being placed directly upon the counter, it is necessary for the attendant, in cleaning the counter and brushing away crumbs, to clean and brush toward the patron. The apex of the angle formed by the front of the display case and the counter is a diflicult place to clean, crumbs and dirt collect there, andas a consequence a display case of this type is unsanitary.

Where two display cases of average height are superimposed one upon the other, or where one comparatively high display case equal in height to the two superimposed cases, is placed directly upon the counter the objections as to disproportionate height to the attendants and as to the exposure to view of the service devices are eliminated. The disadvantages as to the dlfliculty of cleanlng and as to sanitation, however, remain.

The remaining type of display case, that in which two superimposed display cases are located at a point near the center of the counter and raised therefrom to an elevation sufficient to permit the serving of the patrons to be done under the display case, is also subject to certain objections. Where a display case of this type is used the overall height of the structure, display case and counter, is so great that it is disproportionate to the height of an attendant of average size and therefore takes away from the attractive appearance of attendants serving behind the counter. Another disadvantage is that it is decidedly awkward to serve under the display case and experience has shown that patrons do not like to be served in this fashion.

Still another disadvantage is that the display of food is not so advantageously located when raised to a height to permit service beneath the display case.

The object of this invention is to overcome all of these and other disadvantages and I have devised a means for the display of food on a lunch counter in the most sanitary manner and the most convenient method of servin the food and retracting the used dishes.

y means of my invention food is displayed in a display case which is so arranged that the patron can be served over the case and the necessary cleaning and brushing away of crumbs, by the attendant, may be done toward the attendant and away from the patron and under the ease.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of the illustrated embodiment of my invention in its preferred form.

Referring to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification:

Fig. l is a plan view of a lunch counter equipped with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, from the patrons side of the counter;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the food display case as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a back view of one supporting member, showing the method of attachment to the counter;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the method of attaching the glass sides of the display case;

Fig. 7 is a view of a supporting member or bracket;

Fig. 8 is a view of an attaching means for fastening the bracket to the counter top.

The same numbers refer to the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings 1 is a lunch counter having a serving top 1 that may be of glass or other vitreous or impervious material to which brackets cannot be readily attached, or may be of wood to which brackets can be easily attached, with stools or seats 2 for the patrons. It is so arranged that there is space in front for the accommodation of patrons and behind for serving. Attached to the counter 1 by screws 3 (Fig. 5) are the inner members of the brackets 4 which support the display case 5.

The supporting brackets 4 are in shape like a parallelogram with one side omitted and with one projecting side longer than the other, as best shown in Fig. 7. They are formed with a web 6 and supporting surfaces 7. The inner side of the bracket 4 is extended as shown at 8 and provided with holes 9 to receive the screws 3 for attaching the supporting brackets to the counter, below the top 1', as shown in Fig. 4, when the top is a vitreous material. When the top 1 is made of wood the bracket may be formed as at 8, Fig. 8, and provided with screw holes 9 and attached to the top directly.

Clamping members 12 are attached to the supporting brackets 4 by means of the threaded screw holes 10 and 11 and the screws 18. The clamping members 12 hold glass plates 14 in contact with the supporting brackets 4 and thus form the top and one side of the display case 5. A glass plate 15 is rested upon and supported by the ledges 7 of the supporting bracket 4 and forms the bottom of the display case 5.

At the ends of the display case the clamping members 16 are provided with a flange, as shown in Fig. 6. These L-shaped clamping members 16 hold glass plates 17 in the position shown in Fig. 6, thus forming an end of the display case.

The web 6 on the inner member of each bracket 4 terminates at 18 at such distance from the top of the bracket that it will reston the top of the counter to function jointly with the rounded portion 19 of the outer member of the bracket to support the weight of the display cases and contents.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a food display case for lunch or serving counters the combination of a display compartment and spaced U-shaped brackets, said brackets having means for supporting said display compartment in spaced relation to said lunch or serving counter, and also having detachable means for holding in position the plates forming said display compartment, and also having means whereby they may be attached to said lunch or serving counter.

2. In a lunch counter, the combination of a display case, a plurality of brackets, substantially U-shaped and having one leg longer than the other, means for demountably holding the plates forming said display case in position on said brackets, means for holding said display case in spaced relation to said lunch counter, and means for attaching said brackets to said lunch counter.

3. A bracket for support of a food-display case, being substantially U-shaped and having one leg longer than the opposite leg, said longer leg having means whereby it may be attached to the rear side of a lunch-serving counter, said bracket also having detachable means for holding in position the plates forming said food display case and means for spacing said case from the top of said counter.

4. A Ushaped bracket for support of a food display case, having means for supporting said food display case in spaced relation with the top of a counter, means for detachably holding in position on said bracket the plates forming said food display case, each leg of said bracket having bearing surfaces for supporting the weight of said case upon the top surface of said counter and means for attaching said bracket to said counter.

5. A bracket for support of a display case having a pair of spaced Vertical members, a horizontal cross member uniting said vertical members, detachable means for holding in position the plates of said display case, means thereon for holding said display case in spaced relation to a counter and means for attaching one of said Vertical members to said counter.

In testimony whereof, I aflix no signature.

JOHN REID. 

